Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler has made some sharply critical comments about new coach Fred Hoiberg‘s laid back coaching style, a move that reportedly didn’t sit well with Butler’s teammates or the front office. “I believe in the guys in this locker room, yeah,” Butler had said after last Saturday’s loss to the Knicks. “But I also believe that we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times. I’m sorry. I know Fred’s a laid-back guy and I really respect him for that, but when guys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do, you got to get on guys. Myself included. You got to do what you’re supposed to do when you’re out there playing basketball.”
According to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com, the Bulls are having difficulty adjusting to Hoiberg’s style after years of defensive-minded “taskmaster” Tom Thibodeau. Both Butler and Hoiberg are in the first year of their respective five-year deals, which makes any potential discord between Butler, the team’s star, and the new coach a dicey and uncomfortable proposition.
This bring me to the topic for today: Should the Bulls look to trade Jimmy Butler given his recent remarks and the rift that is reportedly developing between he and his teammates?
While there is little doubt that Butler is the team’s best player, it can be a chemistry killer if the face of the franchise isn’t on board with the coaching staff’s program. Butler has also reportedly rankled his fellow Bulls with his propensity to do his pregame warm ups on his own, a practice that caused Joakim Noah to have a talk with him recently, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Friedell had suggested that Butler’s remarks may have signaled “the beginning of the end” of his time in Chicago, though the controversy has seemingly died down since this past weekend.
But what say you? Were Butler’s remarks about Hoiberg out of line, or do they have merit? If you believe that the swingman was correct in his assessment, do you think he was justified in voicing his frustrations publicly? Would the Bulls be better served trying to deal Butler if a significant return could be garnered, or should the front office take the player’s comments to heart and look to make a change in the coaching staff? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Are you kidding me? Butler is right, Hoiberg is a company man who’s in over his head. GarPax couldn’t stand having Thibs disagree that they had put together the perfect team, even though the parts don’t fit and players like Snell didn’t get minutes for a reason.
Butler is a keeper and a core player. Hoiberg is a rookie coach. If the players need more direction then give it to them. If they are essentially asking for it ( no player has come forward to dispute Butler yet) then give them a disciplined hand, or risk losing their respect. The Bulls look tired and lazy every night — last night they let Brooklyn out hustle them throughout the game. Except for Jo Noah God bless his heart.
Hoiberg needs to stop coddling players and tell them to put in the extra effort or catch some pine. And he needs to tell management that the team is mismatched and doesn’t have a roster that provides sensible rotations. This has been a problem in the Paxson era, too many players with identical skill sets, like he is hedging his bets.
In the end the players have to make the shots — and Hoiberg needs to tell them it is on them to win the games, including Butler, who is begging the coach to tell him to STFU.
If this keeps up, it will be one and done in the playoffs again and GarPax will have the answer whether coaching or roster was the problem. Hoiberg is put it an awful position but he is not taking charge of it and that is why Butler spoke.
They should only trade Butler if they could land someone like Boogie Cousins in return. I wonder if Butler is trying to get traded though. He was looking elsewhere in free agency.
Butler is a good player, but also a snake in the grass.
Butler doesn’t fit Hoiberg’s system, but hides it by eating up the shot clock before passing to teammates for a last second shot.
Which keeps Butler’s stats decent, but destroys his teammates (especially Rose) stats.
Then Butler publicly calls out his head coach and teammates. Which makes him a fake.
Hence, Butler is a good player, but a fake and a snake.
Trade him yesterday!
No
Butler and Hoiberg are both on new five-year contracts. If they don’t like each other, they just have to suck it up and work it out. I suspect they’ll be OK as time passes and Hoiberg gets used to the NBA and to this roster.
Time to clean out this front office also! Reinsdorfs other team(White Sox) needs a house cleaning also. This is what happens Jerry when you nap too long. Get rid of the buddy system I.e., Williams and Paxon.
Rock Hahn is the GM of the White Sox, and he has done a great job retooling that team, and the organizational depth